Joe Bryant

Joe Bryant, 2007
WNBA's Los Angeles Sparks
Coach
Born	(1954-10-19) October 19, 1954 (age 58) Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Nationality	American
College	La Salle (1973–1975)
WNBA career	2005–2011
Profile	WNBA coach profile
WNBA Head Coach of
Los Angeles Sparks (2005–2007) Los Angeles Sparks (2011)
WNBA Assistant Coach of
Los Angeles Sparks (2011)
Coaching Record
Regular season	40–23 (.635)
Postseason	2–5 (.286)

Joe Bryant

Bryant coaching the Rera Kamuy Hokkaido 2010
No. 23, 22
Power forward / Center
Personal information
Born	(1954-10-19) October 19, 1954 (age 58) Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Nationality	American
Listed height	6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
Listed weight	185 lb (84 kg)
Career information
High school	John Bartram (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)
College	La Salle (1973–1975)
NBA Draft	1975 / Round: 1 / Pick: 14th overall
Selected by the Golden State Warriors
Pro career	1975–1992
Career history
As player:
1975–1979	Philadelphia 76ers
1979–1982	San Diego Clippers
1982–1983	Houston Rockets
1984–1986	AMG Sebastiani Rieti (Italy)
1986–1987	Standa Reggio Calabria (Italy)
1987–1989	Olimpia Pistoia (Italy)
1989–1991	Reggiana (Italy)
1991–1992	FC Mulhouse Basket (France)
As coach:
2003–2004	Las Vegas Rattlers (ABA)
2004–2005	Boston Frenzy (ABA)
2005–2006	Los Angeles Sparks (WNBA)
2007–2009	Tokyo Apache (Japan)
2010–2011	Rera Kamuy Hokkaido (Japan)
2011	Los Angeles Sparks (WNBA)
2012	Bangkok Cobras (ABL)
2013	Chang Thailand Slammers (ABL)
Career NBA and Serie A statistics
Points	12,584 (14.8 ppg)
Rebounds	4,012 (4.7 rpg)
Assists	1,595 (1.9 apg)
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com

Joseph Washington "Jellybean" Bryant (born October 19, 1954 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) is a retired American professional basketball player, current coach, and the father of Los Angeles Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant. Bryant was the head coach of the WNBA's Los Angeles Sparks from August 22, 2005 until April 4, 2007.^[1] He returned to that position after Jennifer Gillom was fired by the Los Angeles Sparks on July 10, 2011.

He is currently the head coach of the Chang Thailand Slammers of the ASEAN Basketball League.

Pro career [edit]

After starring at La Salle University, Bryant, a 6'9" (2.07 m) forward, was drafted in the first round by the Golden State Warriors in 1975.^[2] Before the season started, though, he was dealt to his hometown team, the Philadelphia 76ers, with whom he played for four seasons. His 1976-77 Sixers team, featuring NBA all-stars Julius Erving, Doug Collins and George McGinnis, reached the NBA finals, but eventually lost to the Portland Trail Blazers 4 games to 2.^[3] Bryant headed back to the West Coast when he was traded by the 76ers^[4] to the San Diego Clippers, for whom he played from 1980-82.

After a final NBA season with the Houston Rockets in 1983, Bryant headed to Europe, playing seven seasons in Italy with clubs of the Italian A1 League and the Italian A2 League. He played with the Italian clubs AMG Sebastiani Rieti (1984–86), Reggio Calabria (1986–87), Pistoia (1987–89) and Reggio Emilia (1989–91). He twice had 53-point games with Pistoia in the 1987-88 season.

Bryant continued to play into his fifties, appearing in several games for the Boston Frenzy of the fledgling American Basketball Association.

Coaching career [edit]

Bryant's first coaching position after returning from Europe was in 1992-1993 as the head coach of the women's varsity team at Akiba Hebrew Academy in Lower Merion, Pennsylvania.^[5] In June 1993, Bryant left Akiba and accepted an assistant coach position at his alma-mater, La Salle University.^[6]

On August 22, 2005, Bryant, who had been serving as the assistant coach to the Los Angeles Sparks team in the Women's National Basketball Association, was named Head Coach of the Sparks, succeeding previous coach (and former 76ers teammate) Henry Bibby. During the 2006 season, he led the Sparks to a 25-9 record and a Conference Finals berth. However, in April 2007, Bryant was replaced as Sparks head coach by Michael Cooper, who had previously helmed the team in 1999-2004.

Bryant spent the 2007-08 season coaching the Tokyo Apache in Japan's professional basketball league the Japanese BJ League.

On July 3, 2009 he signed a contract with his first Italian club, Sebastiani Rieti.^[7]

In January 2012, he became coach of the Bangkok Cobras in the ASEAN Basketball League (ABL).^[8]

Personal life [edit]

Joe Bryant is married to Pam Cox, sister of former NBA player Chubby Cox. They have two daughters and one son: Sharia, Shaya, and Kobe. Kobe became an NBA All-Star player and won multiple NBA championships with the Los Angeles Lakers.

References [edit]

External links [edit]

• Joe Bryant at Basketball-Reference.com
• Joe Bryant WNBA Coach Profile
• Joe Bryant statistics in Italian Championship